Sierra Designs DriDown Rain Jacket Review

by Joanna Oomkes

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Initial Thoughts

Sierra Designs has called this a rain jacket, but it so much more than that. It is truly as advertised a single solution with great versatility for winter use. It protects from the wet and cold environments with it’s waterproof rain shell and insulated DriDown. Here in Colorado we are blessed with 300 days of sunshine, so rainy days are far and few between. Having said that, I have been wearing my Sierra Designs DriDown Rain Jacket in a wide variety of conditions.

Sierra Designs DriDown Rain Jacket

Technical Features

DriDown – 90 g of 600 fill power DriDown which is a natural down insulation treated with a hydrophobic finish. It stays drier 10 x longer and dries 33% more quickly than untreated down. Sierra Designs did not put this DriDown under the arms, sides or hood for a streamlined fit, venting and packability. The underarms have vents that keep you cool without the hassle or bulk of pit zips.

Having a stitch-free design with welded construction creates a waterproof jacket. This feature eliminates leak-paths, so you can be assured a dry day if it’s hiking or simply out and about on the town. In addition, with the hem draw cord and adjustable cuffs they will seal out those nasty drafts when the wind does pick up.

I really like the pack compatible pockets. They are positioned slightly higher providing you access even while you wear a backpack. On several shorter Front Range hikes, I was able to pack a lunch, and some additional layers in my day pack. The straps from the pack were situated so that they did not interfere with my pockets. This came in handy when traversing a windy ridge. I didn’t have gloves, so being able to keep my hands protected in my pockets was a nice bonus.

The Rain Jacket comes in a Regular fit which accommodates base layers, mid layers, or a simple t-shirt depending on the weather conditions.

Sierra Designs DriDown Rain Jacket

Performance of the Sierra Designs DriDown Rain Jacket

The Sierra Designs DriDown Rain Jacket is as advertised and so much more. When you think of a rain jacket, you can forget about that plastic no lining look. It truly is warm and dry in a single solution type of coat. That’s why I think that simply referring to it as a “Rain Jacket” could be a bit misleading. This jacket can be worn on a cold weather day just as easily as a rainy one. The DriDown technology that is densely layered within make it such a superior coat. Gone are the days that you feel like the Michelin man when wearing a coat to stay warm. With the DriDown technology you really don’t need much else. Start with a base layer, put your Sierra Designs Dridown Rain Jacket on, and head out the door. You’ll certainly stay dry if there is chance of rain. The added bonus is that you will without a doubt stay warm in frigid temperatures.

I have enjoyed wearing the DriDown Rain Jacket for my day to day activities. It’s seen action going to and from work, running errands, playing with the kids outside, and on a few day hikes. It is super versatile. From a stylish aspect I never hesitate to wear my DriDown Rain Jacket as it complements many of my outfits. In Colorado it rarely rains, except for this year. With that being said, we Coloradoans do see our fare share of snow, and I have grabbed this piece of apparel over others in my closet.

There are many benefits to this coat. The DriDown technology in this jacket make it weight so minimal that I’ve not given it a second thought. Add in the bonus of comfort and you get perfection. I tend to be a cold person and need many layers to help keep me warm. Something short of a head to toe parka would be in my nature to wear in frigid cold days. Having said that, that’s what really impressed me the most about the DriDown Rain jacket, I didn’t need much when wearing this amazing jacket. I have stayed warm with my base and mid layer under my coat on many very cold occasions.

The jacket comes with a hood that does not contain down. I have actually not utilized mine as much as I could have. I suppose there is a comfort factor of having a hood.

The DriDown Rain Jacket comes in Black and Plum for women. I tend to usually go with black, but I have enjoyed my Plum color. This color was a perfect match to my daily ensemble. The men have a few more colors to choose from: Black, Poseidon (dark blue) and Mint. The single color added a element of class to the superior look of the jacket. My only concern is that the options are somewhat limited.

Sierra Designs DriDown Rain Jacket

Sierra Designs DriDown Rain Jacket Final Thoughts

This jacket is wonderful. It protects from the wet and cold environments with its waterproof rainshell insulated with DriDown. It is so much more than just a rain jacket. I gravitated towards wearing it as my everyday coat even in frigid temperatures. This DriDown Rain jacket provided me with everything I look for in my day to day outerwear as well as an active piece of apparel while going on hikes. It was light weight, comfortable and compact. For more information and purchase please visit: www.sierradesigns.com or www.amazon.com/sierradesigns.